List of electrified railways in North America
This list contains the main electrified railroad lines in North America . Pure mining and connecting railways are not included.
United States of America
| Railway company | Route or section | Country | Route length |
Power system | electrified | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start from |
End up |
||||||
| Boston and Albany Railroad | Newton Lower Falls - Riverside | MA | 881.9 km | 550 V direct current, overhead line | 1910 | 1930 | passenger traffic |
| Boston and Maine Railroad | Hoosac Tunnel - North Adams | MA | 12.7 km | 11 kV, 25 Hz alternating current, overhead line | 1911 | 1946 | Tunnel operation |
| Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad | Boston - Lynn and Winthrop | MA | 22.2 km | 600 V direct current, overhead line | 1928 | 1940 | Suburban passenger transport |
| New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | Nantasket Junction - Pemberton , Braintree - Cohasset | MA | 32.7 km | 600 V direct current, catenary and power rail | 1895 | 1932 | passenger traffic |
| New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | Hartford - Bristol / Middletown , Westfield - Meriden , Middletown - Cromwell | CT | 600 V direct current, power rail | 1896 | 1906 | passenger traffic | |
| New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | Manufacturers Railroad in New Haven | CT | 600 V direct current, overhead line | 1896 | 1948 | Shunting operation | |
| New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | Stamford - New Canaan | CT | 600 V direct current 11 kV 25 Hz alternating current 12 kV, 60 Hz alternating current overhead line |
1899 | 1908 and 1985/86 conversion of the electricity system, today operated by Metro-North Railroad | ||
| New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | Tafts - Central Village | CT | 600 V direct current, overhead line | 1906 | 1930 | passenger traffic | |
| New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | East Hartford - Melrose and Rockville | CT | 600 V direct current, overhead line | 1907 | 1930 | passenger traffic | |
| New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | Providence - Warren - Bristol (Rhode Island) and Fall River | RI , MA | 38.6 km | 650 V direct current, overhead line | 1901 | 1938 | passenger traffic |
| New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | ( New York ) -Harlem River- New Haven- Cedar Hill Yard, Woodlawn - New Rochelle | NY , CT | 11 kV, 25 Hz alternating current 12 kV, 60 Hz alternating current overhead line |
1907-1915 | 1985/86 conversion of the electricity system, today operated by Metro-North Railroad | ||
| New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | South Norwalk - Danbury | CT | 11 kV, 25 Hz alternating current, overhead line | 1925 | 1961 | ||
| Amtrak | New Haven - Boston | CT , RI , MA | 251 km | 25 kV, 60 Hz alternating current, overhead line | 2000 | Long-distance passenger transport | |
| Baltimore and Ohio Railroad | Howard Street Tunnel in Baltimore | MD | 5.8 km | 650 V DC, power rail | 1895 | 1952 | Tunnel operation |
| Baltimore and Ohio Railroad | SIRT Arlington - South Beach, New York and Tottenville | NY | 33.8 km | 650 V DC, power rail | 1925 | Suburban passenger traffic, routes to Arlington and South Beach discontinued in 1953, remaining route St. George – Tottenville today operated by MTA | |
| Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad | Hoboken - Newark - Gladstone and Dover | NJ | 112.6 km | 3000 V direct current 25 kV, 60 Hz alternating current, overhead line |
1930/1931 | Suburban passenger transport, conversion of electricity system in 1984, now operated by New Jersey Transit | |
| Erie Railroad | Rochester - Mt. Morris | NY | 54.7 km | 11 kV, 25 Hz alternating current, overhead line | 1907 | 1934 | passenger traffic |
| Hudson and Manhattan Railroad | Newark - New York City | NJ , NY | 22.2 km | 600 V direct current, power rail | 1908-1911 | Suburban passenger transport, Hudson River tunnel operation, now operated by PATH | |
| Long Island Rail Road | NY | 203.5 km | 650 V DC, power rail | 1905-1988 | Suburban passenger traffic, between 1932–1950, some routes were shut down, today operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority | ||
| Long Island Rail Road | Bay Ridge – Fresh Pond Junction | NY | 19.1 km | 11 kV, 25 Hz alternating current, overhead line | 1927 | 1969 | Freight transport |
| New York Central and Hudson River Railroad | 23rd Street Station and Grand Central Terminal - Croton-on-Hudson and Brewster and branch lines | NY | 157.3 km | 660 V DC, power rail | 1906-1931 | Smoke avoidance in the New York metropolitan area, some routes shut down between 1943 and 1959, today suburban passenger transport by Metro-North Railroad | |
| NYNH & H - New York Connecting Railroad | Port Morris - Fresh Pond Junction / Sunnyside Yard | NY | 14.5 km | 11 kV, 25 Hz alternating current, overhead line | 1918/1927 | Line over Hell Gate Bridge , section to Sunnyside Yard closed in 1969, today operated by Amtrak | |
| New York, Westchester and Boston Railway | Harlem River Terminal– PortChester and White Plains | NY | 41.7 km | 11 kV, 25 Hz alternating current, overhead line | 1912-1929 | 1937 | Suburban passenger transport |
| Niagara Junction Railway | Niagara Falls | NY | 17.7 km | 660 V direct current, overhead line | 1913 | 1979 | Shunting traffic |
| PRR - Burlington and Mount Holly Traction Railroad | Burlington - Mount Holly | NJ | 11.6 km | 500 V direct current, Obler line | 1895 | 1901 | Experimental operation of passenger transport |
| PRR - West Jersey and Seashore Railroad | Camden - Millville and Atlantic City | NJ | 120.7 km | 650 V DC, power rail and overhead line | 1906 | 1949 | passenger traffic |
| Pennsylvania Railroad | Dillsburg - Mechanicsburg | PA | 12.4 km | 600 V direct current, overhead line | 1906 | 1928 | Experimental operation of passenger transport |
| Pennsylvania Railroad | New York Pennsylvania Station - Manhattan Transfer | NJ | 21.6 km | 675 V direct current, track 11 kV, 25 Hz alternating current, overhead line |
1910 | Hudson River tunnel operation, 1932 Conversion of the power system between Manhattan Transfer and the tunnel, today operated by Amtrak | |
| Pennsylvania Railroad | New York City - Washington, DC , Perryville - Harrisburg , Trenton - Enola, and other branch lines | NY , NJ , PA , DE , MD | 1055.5 km | 11 kV, 25 Hz alternating current, overhead line | 1915-1938 | 1960–1981 various route sections shut down, 1981 freight traffic ceased on the entire network; Long-distance passenger services by Amtrak on the New York – Washington, DC, Philadelphia – Harrisburg routes | |
| Reading Company | Philadelphia Reading Terminal - Norristown , Chestnut Hill , Doylestown , Warminster , West Trenton , Fox Chase | PA | 150 km | 11 kV, 25 Hz alternating current, overhead line | 1931-1973 | On-site passenger transport, today operated by SEPTA | |
| Norfolk and Western Railway | Iaeger - Bluefield and branch lines | WV | 89.9 km | 11 kV 25 Hz alternating current, overhead line | 1915-1924 | 1950 | Tunnel and incline operation |
| Virginian Railway | Roanoke - Mullens | VA , WV | 216.4 km | 11 kV 25 Hz alternating current, overhead line | 1925 | 1962 | Tunnel and slope operation for freight traffic |
| Cleveland Union Terminal Company | Collinwood - Linndale | OH | 27.4 km | 3000 V direct current, overhead line | 1930 | 1953 | Smoke avoidance in the Cleveland Union Terminal |
| Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad | Fordton - Flat Rock | MI | 25.7 km | 22 kV, 25 Hz alternating current, overhead line | 1926 | 1930 | |
| Illinois Central Railroad | Chicago - Richton and Branch Lines | IL | 63.7 km | 150 V direct current, overhead line | 1926/1977 | On-site passenger transport, today operated by METRA Electric | |
| Muskingum Electric Railroad | Muskingum Mine - Muskingum Power Plant | OH | 14.1 km | 25 kV, 60 Hz alternating current, overhead line | 1968 | 2002 | Coal transport to the power plant |
| Michigan Central Railroad | Detroit - Windsor | MI , ON | 7.2 km | 650 V DC, power rail | 1910 | 1953 | Tunnel operations Michigan Central Railway Tunnel |
| Black Mesa and Lake Powell Railroad | Black Mesa Mine - Navajo Generating Station | AZ | 125.5 km | 50 kV, 60 Hz AC current, overhead line | 1973 | Coal transport to the power plant | |
| Butte, Anaconda and Pacific Railway | Butte - Anaconda - Southern Cross | MT | 60.2 km | 2400 V direct current, overhead line | 1913 | 1967 | Copper ore transport from the Anaconda copper mine |
| Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad | Harlowtown - Avery | MT , ID | 704.9 km | 3000 V direct current, overhead line | 1916 | 1974 | |
| Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad | Seattle / Tacoma - Othello | WA | 333.1 km | 3000 V direct current, overhead line | 1919/1927 | 1972 | |
| Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad | Great Falls Yard | MT | 1500 V direct current, overhead line | 1915 | 1937 | Shunting operation | |
| Deseret Power Railroad | Deseret Mine - Bonanza Power Plant | UT , CO | 56.3 km | 50 kV 60 Hz, overhead line | 1984 | Coal transport to the power plant | |
| Great Northern Railway | Wenatchee - Skykomish | WA | 117.3 km | 6600 V 25 Hz three-phase 11 kV 25 Hz alternating current, overhead line |
1909 | 1956 | Tunnel operating Cascade tunnel 1927 changeover current system and extension of the electrified track |
| Navajo Mine Railroad | Lowe Stockpile-Four Corners Power Plant | NM | 22.5 km | 25 kV, 60 Hz alternating current, overhead line | 1983 | Coal transport to the power plant | |
| Northwestern Pacific Railroad | Sausalito - San Anselmo and San Rafael and branch lines | CA | 33.1 km | 600 V direct current, overhead line | 1903-1908 | 1941 | Suburban passenger transport |
| Southern Pacific Railroad | Oakland - Alameda and Berkeley | CA | 79.8 km | 1200 V direct current, overhead line | 1911 | 1941 | Suburban passenger transport |
| TXU Corporation | North Winfield Mine - Monticello Power Plant - Monticello | TX | 30.6 km | 25 kV, 60 Hz alternating current, overhead line | 1976 | until around 2010 | Coal transport to the power plant |
| TXU Corporation | Oak Hill Mine - Martin Lake Power Plant - Tatum Mine | TX | 20.9 km | 25 kV, 60 Hz alternating current, overhead line | 1976 | 2011 | Coal transport to the power plant |
Interurban
| Railway company | Route or section | Country | Route length |
Power system | Beginning | The End | comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aroostook Valley Railroad | Presque Isle - Caribou ( track products ) | ME | 36.4 km | 1200 V direct current, overhead line | 1910-1912 | 1946 | later shut down |
| Aroostook Valley Railroad | Presque Isle Junction – Washburn Junction | ME | 3.5 km | 1200 V direct current, overhead line | 1910 | 1946 | later shut down |
| Aroostook Valley Railroad | Carson - Sweden ( distance item ) | ME | 11.8 km | 1200 V direct current, overhead line | 1911 | 1946 | later shut down |
| Sanford and Eastern Railroad | Springvale - Sanford | ME | 3.5 km | 1893 | 1947 | later shut down | |
| Mason City & Clear Lake Railway | Mason City - Clear Lake | IA | 27.0 km | 1896 | Today operated by Iowa Traction Railroad |
Canada
| Railway company | Route or section | Country | Route length |
Power system | electrification | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start from | End up | ||||||
| British Columbia Railway | Wakely - Quinette ( Tumbler Ridge ) | BC | 130.3 km | 50 kV 60 Hz alternating current, overhead line | 1984 | 2000 | Tunnel operation, freight traffic |
| Canadian National Railway | Port Huron - Sarnia | ON , MI | 6.75 km | 3300 V, 25 Hz alternating current, overhead line | 1908 | 1958 | Tunnel operation St. Clair Tunnel |
| Canadian National Railway | Montreal - Deux Montagnes , Cartierville , Montreal North | QC | 43.4 km | 2400 V direct current, overhead line 25 kV 60 Hz alternating current overhead line |
1918-1946 | Tunnel and suburban passenger traffic, some sections shut down 1958–1988, 1995 conversion of the electricity system, today operated by Sociéte de transport de la Communauté urbaine de Montréal | |
| Iron Ore Company of Canada | Labrador City | NL | 12.1 km | 2300 V, 60 Hz alternating current, overhead line | 1963 | automatic ore transport | |
| Montreal Harbor Commission | Montreal Harbor | QC | 30.6 km | 2400 V direct current, overhead line | 1922 | 1942 | Smoke avoidance freight transport |
Mexico
| Railway company | Route or section | Route length | Power system | electrification | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start from | End up | |||||
| Ferrocaril National de Mexico | Ciudad de México - Santiago de Querétaro | 218.8 km | 25 kV, 60 Hz alternating current, overhead line | 1994 | 1996 | Electrical operation does not take place |
| Ferrocaril Suburbano del Valle de Mexico | Ciudad de México - Cuautitlán | 27 km | 25 kV, 60 Hz alternating current, overhead line | 2008 | ||
| Ferrocaril Mexicano | Esperanza - Paso del Macho | 103 km | 3000 V direct current, overhead line | 1924-1928 | 1974 | Route largely abandoned |
| Potosí Mining Company Railway Minerales Nationales de Mexico |
El Potosí Mine – Morse Smelter Chihuahua | 24 km | 600 V direct current, overhead line | 1925 | Narrow gauge 762 mm | |
Costa Rica
| Railway company | Route or section | Route length | Power system | electrification | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start from | End up | |||||
| Ferrocarriles de Costa Rica | Río Frío (Costa Rica) - Puerto Limón | 106.2 km | 25 kV 60 Hz alternating current, overhead line | 1982 | 1995 | Narrow gauge 1067 mm |
| Ferrocarril Electrico al Pacifico | Puntarenas - San Jose | 127.1 km | 15 kV 20 Hz alternating current, overhead line | 1929 | 1995 | Narrow gauge 1067 mm |
literature
- William D. Middleton : When the steam railroads electrified . 2nd revised edition. Indiana University Press, Bloomington, IN 2001, ISBN 978-0-253-33979-9 (American English).